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Grosgrain Archives

April 14, 2009

Finally I have found a new Anthropolofication piece. I want you to see the 'before' at the bottom of the page.

This piece was *perfect* for this time of year. I finished it just as the cherry blossoms were blooming and dogwood trees were blossoming. The colors of the tank are VERY springtime! Especially, springtime around here which is gray, pink and white.

I keep waking up to the wraparound windows in my bedroom and finding one gray day after another. They do say 'April showers bring May flowers' but I'm getting really annoyed!

The temperature is constantly hovering over 50 degrees. Warm enough to wear a light jacket, not warm enough to feel comfortable outdoors for very long. Mother nature is such a tease!

The tank has creeping gray, white and pink flowers. I really liked the way they are offset.

To make this piece I took a gray silk shirt and cut off the top and sleeves. What was left was a rectangular piece with points at the places where I'd sew in the straps.

I created five pleats in the front and three in the back which cinched the top and created a billow around the waist.

At first, I bought thin gray strap-like cord. But it wouldn't sew onto the material properly. In addition, it didn't exactly match the gray silk. So eventually, I cut a long piece of fabric from the top that I had removed and made the straps myself. It looks far more convincing than my first attempt.

I then took the flowers and glued them on as if they were creeping across the left side. It had a very overgrown garden look that I liked.Speaking of gardening, I bought and planted those Topsy Turvey tomato planters! They are hanging from my gazebo. I have my doubts. But I also have a dream. A dream of warm, ripe, red tomatoes I can eat from the comfort of my patio furniture. Too good to be true? We shall see.

The pants are Anthropologie as well! Something from last season. I've noticed that they really lean toward cargos with cinches around the legs for springtime. I paired a set of ballet flats and a homemade orchid headband to complete the look.

Although, when wearing this tank I wouldn't recommend climbing in any trees. They are dirty, difficult not to mention dangerous!

When I decided that cherry blossoms would be perfect for these photos I imagined a tree with low hanging limbs and thick stepping branches. What I found was a tree with its first branch about ten feet in the air and thin, almost too skimpy branches to hold the weight of my body.

In retrospect, it was probably not the wisest idea. To accomplish the task I had to climb onto Brian's shoulders then reach for the closest hanging branch and pull myself up and onto it.

My legs and arms have the wounds to prove it! Not to mention my pants which instantly looked as if I had rolled around on a barn floor.

Don't even ask about the getting down part which had its own set of awkward challenges.

I was always good at climbing. Even though I'm normally afraid of heights and have very little upper body strength it was nothing for me to climb 20 feet when I was twelve.

Even after belly flopping from a weak ten foot high branch while reaching for a couple plumb blackberries, I hadn't felt much fear or found much challenge in it.

I do however remember the feeling of hitting the ground. I imagine it's the way someone feels just after being punched in the gut and having the wind knocked out of you. For a moment I didn't know if I could get up.

Perhaps some of that apprehension found its way into my memory yesterday as I pulled myself onto the first branch, because I seriously doubted whether or not I could hold on. You might not be able to tell from the above photo but there was about 10 feet of empty air between me and the ground. As I looked down I recalled the feeling of hitting the ground, stomach first.

And I don't know if it was that flashback or Brian's overt fear but at only ten feet in the air I felt my heart race. Climbing, it seems is for the young....or in my case....foolish.

Did I mention my aunt feel out of a mango tree and broke her hip? She was in her 80s though. Foolish love of climbing must run in my family.I would say this cami would fit a small person. Although, it leaves a lot of room in the bust area. Currently, I'm a 34 C and it fit me mine.

Last day for posts is Sunday 4/26/09.

As usual, if you would like a chance to win this camijust link back to this post. If you have any questions see the "questions and answers" link to the right. If you use blogger just use the "create a link" link at the bottom of this post. If you don't use blogger, that's fine too. Just create a link on your page as you normally would and I will see it using Technorati.

OH MY GOSH!!! I love this top! I already have the petal pink capris to go with it! AND a cherry tree! It is just screaming "let me go to Lilly's house in Bama"Such talent....I have to send my pants out to get them hemmed!I'll post a link~♥,Lilly

I am absolutely in love with your beautiful design! The style of this beautiful and exquisitely made shirt is exactly how I love to dress! I can see how meticulously crafted it is and it is just my size! I can see myself wearing this with a cute pair of white capris or my cute black summer skirt! I posted about your giveaway with a link to here. This is a link to my post! I hope this enters me into your amazing giveaway! Thank you so much for the opportunity to enter. P.S. I am now following your blog too!

Again i am in awe of your creations ;) I am 6 months pregnant - so there is no way i would be fitting in to it this spring ;) but I would LOVE it for next spring....... it would def motivate me to get back in shape... wink, wink!!!!

Oh my gosh! I was drooling over this top at Anthropolgie.com this past weekend! And your tank is just adorable (x a million)! There's a space in my closet for it ;) I've linked to your post-> atesque.livejournal.comSara (thursdayscrush@gmail.com)

OMG - please pick me - this is so beautiful!! I love the story and pictures. I want to get some cute pink pants and adorable flats (how did you find some that matched your blouse so perfectly?). I love that tree climbing is in your blood - I hope you are still climbing when you are 80 (but not falling). I would love to meet you some day - come out West to vacation and visit - the weather is almost always perfect here! Thanks again for the chance to win a Grosgrain original and for the post - I was going into Grosgrain-creations withdrawal.

This is gorgeous! I love how you added the flowers and pleats. Typically I don't like pleats but they look fabulous on this top! The idea of cherry blossoms is fantastic expecially since they're one of my fav. flowers. Can I borrow your talent one of these days? I really want to learn how to do some of this myself.

I am so glad you didn't die while wearing this top--would've been kinda weird to still give it away, huh?! You are so talented in a way I only dream of being!! I know you hear that a lot, but, if we're all saying it, it must be true!!Thank you for sharing your inspirations and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the before and afters!!!

I'm not entering the contest because the top probably won't fit me, but I had to comment on your tree-climbing skills and determination!!! If the climb was as traumatic as you described, you should look into your future in modeling. That was every bit as challenging a photo shoot as the ones on ANTM and you'd never know by your face. You go!

I was sure I had posted already, but I don't see it....must have forgotten the word verification!I have posted it on my blog and am crossing fingers/toes/eyes...etc. at a chance of winning!Have a wonderful day~♥,Lilly

I love what you have done, it's adorable! I won't be entering your giveaway as I'm not small, but I just wanted to tell you how adorable it is and how beautiful you look in it, up in that tree, scracthes and all, lol!

Oh my gosh, what a gorgeous creation, I'd love to win this for my daughter who's turning 20 very soon, she'd love to open this one of a kind piece and wear it out to dinner on her birthday. Thanks for the chance to win.

It is such a beautiful top that it actually inspire me to be creative with a t-shirt I've got. I have the ideas but don't have the 'know how'. I don't even own a sewing machine. This could lead me somewhere down the creative road. Thanks !